Mayo ladies blown away by Storm Emma in league opener

Lidl National Football League Division 1 Round 1

Mayo 1-15

Meath 2-18

Oisín McGovern in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence

STORM Isha was the least of the Mayo ladies’ concerns this afternoon as ‘Storm Emma’ contributed to their downfall in Liam McHale’s first competitive came as manager.

A tour-de-force from the awesome Emma Duggan was the Royals’ crown jewel as the visitors laid the hammer down from the second half onwards.

Spared the ravages of the outside tempest that had the Dome jiggling, snapping and rattling like a bowl full of jelly, a highly entertaining first-half ensued.

Mayo landing a smashing goal from Maria Cannon after she was played in by Tara Needham after a classy foot-pass from senior debutante Alana Fitzpatrick.

However, Meath were back ahead within three minutes when the excellent Meabh Byrne landed a goal - on one of several occasions where the Mayo defence was badly perforated.

Byrne raised yet another green flag just before the break to put the two-time All-Ireland champions 2-10 to 1-8.

The irrepressible Emma Duggan continued to score from everywhere in the second half, finishing with ten points (4 frees) to her name.

With Niamh Gallogly (3 points) and Ciara Smyth (4 points) also shining for the visitors, Mayo slipped seven points behind at one point.

Maria Cannon – who finished with 1-11 (10 frees) – got all but one of the Connacht champions’ second-half scores as the Royals ran out deserving winners.

There will be a full match report plus reaction from Mayo manager Liam McHale in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.